Sunday, February 7, 2016

Could that groundhog be right????

It's a gorgeous day here in the south.  Sun is shining and we are suppose to reach the mid 60's.  Maybe there is some truth to the ground hog not seeing his shadow.  I noticed this week when I went to check the mail that a clump of daffodils is starting to form buds. A sure sign of spring.  Unfortunately about the time they are in full bloom they get covered in snow or pounded by heavy rains.  So I guess we will take it day by day.






 I haven't seen any bees flying around yet, except the ones on my background fabric.   But my husband did say he saw some mosquitos flying around last week.  Hard to believe isn't it!







So today's stitching will include working on the next block of SVBQ.  The Blue Flag or Iris block!  When I grew up in northeastern Illinois where many farmer's wives grew iris' in their gardens, sometimes you would see them growing along side an old country road, perhaps the remains of an old family farm.  They are quite hardy and we never had any of the fancy hybrid variety but just the old fashion generic flags.  So I decided to do my petals in purple, adding a bit of gold to the centers. Yes that is how I remembered them!




And of course I will try to get a few stitches in block number 13 which is a corner block on Baltimore Garden.  Two more blocks on this row and then I will move to the last column of five blocks on the other side.  I also took some time to play with quilting ideas for the border.  Nothing in stone yet, but getting close to deciding.  It's a bit like shopping for something new, its the journey the window shopping and browsing that brings so much joy to quilting for me. How about you?


26 comments:

  1. Your purple irises remind me of the Louisiana irises that grow here - often spied growing in ditches along the roadsides.

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    1. From all the comments I received they live most everywhere I think. This block is taking some time but I am having fun and am proud I am having such success with those little narrow stems.

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  2. Our garden has purple iris, it is gorgeous.
    You are doing a great job with your appliques. Beautiful work.

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    1. I think the purple is definitely my favorite. But they do come in such gorgeous colors now that they have been hybridized. Have fun stitching this week.

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  3. my daffodils started to open this week - you are a little further south than I am so I bet any day now. This variety of daffodils that I have are some of the earliest around here to open, my daughter says ours are the first she always sees. And of course we might get snow in the next couple weeks and they will get covered up but so far other than the next two days being quit chilly I see no sign of snow in the forecast! Love your applique it is all looking so great. I love Iris's but mine are getting old,some had disease and I think it is probably best this year to pull them all up as they let me see where they are and start with some new bulbs (corms? tubers? not sure the proper word)

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    1. I saw some blooming in our area this week but I think mine are a later variety. I only have a few clumps a couple by the front door are more protected so they always bloom first. Arkansas is not real conducive to growing flowers. I do miss that about living up north. But it is fun to include them in our quilts isn't it? Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. My daffs are poking through the ground up here in Michigan. It is an unusual sight in February. The Baltimore Garden is coming along very nicely.

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    1. Oh Daffodils are one of my favorite spring flowers. My look so good this year I just hope the snow or rain doesn't beat them up. Thanks for taking the time to visit and comment.

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  5. Purple irises are the ones I remember. I even have some in my kitchen garden. No bulbs for me, but our jade is bursting out in flowers. We've seen mosquitoes too! And bees. But then that's So Cal for you. Love your block. Happy Sunday stitching, Carla.

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    1. I have never seen a jade plant bloom. How interesting. Hope you are getting adequate water in your area. We usually have feast or famine. Very wet winters and drought like summers that get quite hot.

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  6. Looking good! You are really starting to make lots of progress! Can't wait to see these finished!

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    1. I enjoy the stitching and used to push myself to get done. Lately, I just stitch at least an hour each day and enjoy the stitching.

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  7. Replies
    1. Aren't they such a wonderful hardy plant. My mom had a beautiful flower garden and I have always enjoyed perennials in my yards. I guess that is why I love making quilts with a botancial theme. Thanks for stopping by

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  8. I saw a couple of mosquitoes yesterday too. UGH! It has been so warm here too.

    Your applique is gorgeous.

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    1. Yeah we don't need them around right now with that new virus coming back with vacationers. Thanks for stopping by.

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  9. Your flower photos are a nice hint of spring, we are snow covered! I enjoyed reading your iris memories, I recall the same. As well as the almost furry yellow strips on the iris petals. I'm looking forward to your blue flag block.
    Your hand quilting is beautiful, I always love to see what's in your hoop. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Thanks Dawn! Yes even though they are quite simple to grow and quite hardy their blooms are so fancy!

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  10. What do you do with all your quilts? Do you sell them or give them to family members as gifts?

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    1. Well, they are a bit like my children, but not allowed to leave home like they did. LOL I use around the house and just enjoy them. Thanks for stopping by today.

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  11. Oh how wonderful! Down in this part of Arkansas it just too hot and dry to grow many perennials. I have a knock rose and some iris and cone flowers which do alright. I do missing living up north when I had big beds of flowers. Thanks for stopping by!

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  12. The grid quilting looks so good in the center of your applique design.

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    1. I am going to wait till all the blocks are completed and am thinking of adding stippling to the center of the four corner wreath blocks. Not sure yet, I do like the grid, but once I see all the blocks quilted I can see if it needs a bit of something. Maybe I am just not wanting to finish this one, it's such a joy to see in the frame.

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  13. Yesterday was a beautiful day here in my southern part of the world also.
    Love the progress you are making on all your projects.

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  14. Yum... love seeing your photos of such lovely stitching projects!
    We won't be seeing daffodils for a long time here... it's minus 23 today!

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